Speed governor



' R. G. RICHADSN SPEED GOVERNR Filed Nov. s. 1922 -InUE1 mr- Bnd'ne lll-Ember 5mn Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

Bonney e. RICHARDSON, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.`

SPEED GOVERNOR.

Application filed November 3, 1922. Serial No. 598,773.

My invention `relates in general `to speed governors, and has for its object the production of anovel and improved device of this kind operating on principles whichso far as l amaware have not heretofore been made use of vin this connection.

Briefly stated, I employ as a governing force a gyroscopic couple, generated by ro` tating a heavy body about two perpendicular axes simultaneously at a speed proportionate to the speed of the prime mover to be governed. Suitable mechanism is provided for producing the necessary rotary movements, and in addition means is pro` vided responsive to an increase or decrease in the gyroscopic couple for effecting the necessary control ofthe prime mover to maintain its speed within desired limits.

The principles of the invention may find expression in numerous mechanical forms, one of which is illustrated in the acconr panying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a side view of a governor embodying the invention;

F ig. 2 is a top view with the stationary drive wheel and shaft removed; and

Fig. 3 is a top kview of the stationary drive wheel with the associated shaft cut away onthe line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the shaft 1, of which only the upper end is shown, is rotatably supported in the frame work 2 by means of bearing 3. This shaft supports all the moving parts and is provided with a suit-able thrust bearing at its lower end. Also at the lower end of shaft 1 are provided suitable gears or other means by which t-he shaftis connected tothe prime mover. These partsmay be of any well known construction, and astheyhave nothing to do with the invention they have been omitted from the dra-wing.

Shaftl `has a fork at its upper end comprisingtwo parallel `members 6 andv '7, between which is carried the horizontal frame 4, most clearly seen in Fig. 2. The `frame 4 is pivoted on the forked end of shaft 1 at 14. On the frame 4 are mounted the fly wheel or gyroscopic sha-ft 11, `supported on bearing 8, 9, and 10, the fined idler shafts 16 and 17, .and the balancing weight 21.v

In order to drive the fiy wheel L5 the friction drive wheel 30 is providechFigs. 1 and 3. l This wheel is supported a shortdistance below its center on thelower end of shaft 31 by means of a universal joint comprising 'l' head 38, ring 37, and downwardly extending brackets 40 and 41 attached to the drive wheel. Shaft 31 is slidably supported in a portion 36 of the main framework, and is prevented from turning by means of a pin 35 which projects through slot 34. Sur rounding shaft- 31 and occupying the space between member 36 and the adjustingnut 32 is a coil spring 33, by means of which the drive wheel 30 is kept pressed down on the friction drive pinion 22 and the idler pinions 18 and i9 As the gyroscope rotates at relatively high speed and has a high inertia, the friction drive is desirable because it permits a slight slip Jing" and eliminates the danger of excessive strain due to sudden changes in the speed of the main shaft. It will be understood that the center of the 'universal joint is coincident with the intersection of a horizontal line drawn through pivots 14 and a vertical line extending upward through the center of shaft 1, so that the drive wheel is maintained uniformly in engagement with the three pinions regarde less of the position of the frame 4.

In operation, the frame 4 assumes varying positions away from the horizontal and in order to communicate these movements lto the control apparatus the main shaft 1 has a sliding sleeve 25, which is Vconnected to the frame 4 by. link 13 and cross pin 12. Just above the sleeve 25 is a coil spring "24, th-e tension of which may be adjusted by means of adjusting nut 23. The sleeve 25 is recessed as shown clearly in Fig. 1 to receive a forked lever 26, which is pivoted at 23 on a bracket attached to the frame. Link 27 connects the lever 26 with the control apparatus. For example, when the device is used as a steam engine governor link 27 will connect with the throttle valve. ,s

The operation is as follows: Assuming that the shaft 1 is connected bysuitable gearingto the shaft of the prime mover, a steam engine, for instance, so as to be rotated in the direction of the arrow when the engine is ruiming, as theengine'isstarted up the frame 4 will begin to rotate in a horizontal plane about the vertical shaft ,las an axis.

It will be evident, also,` that sincek the drive generale a perceptible gvroscopic couple lcndinglo tilt the fraaie` i about `an axis pcrpemlicular to the two axes of rotation, or about the pivots 14;. This gyroscopic couple, or force tending to tilt the frame il. `from the horizontal, will tend to raise the sleeve against the tension of spring Qi. The device should be so adjusted that when the desired critical speed is reached the gyrolscopic couple will be strong enough to raise the sleeve to` a. point where the associated control apparatus begins `to sluit olf 4the steam.

There are two points of :'uljustmcnt. The weight 2l. may be moved in or out to produce an exact balance 'o' any desired degree of ui'iliialancc,v providing with the latter ai'ljustment a lixed force (gravity) of any desired amount which the gyroscopic couple must overcome before itcan begin to act against the spring 52kt. The spring 2d on the other hand offers a resistance tothe `gyroscopic couple which increases in proportion lo the movement of the sleeve as the springis compressed, andtherefore prevents a sudden or spasmodicl operation of the device at the critical speed, which might otherwise entirely shut off the steam.

It willV be understood also Jthat a speed responsive device embodying the principles of the invention is not necessarily restricted to use as a speed governor, but may be used in any situation which demands the operation of control or register` apparatus in accordance With the speed of an `associated machine. ByI way of example; thedevice illustrated could he used as a direct reading speed indicator by arranging the link 27 so as to move a pointer over a suitable scale.

Haaiing described my invention, what I consider to be new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the appended claims.

'hat i claim is:

jl. l'n a speed responsive device, a rotatable shaft, a frame pivotally suliporleil on said shaft, a gyroscope rotatably supported in said `frame by nicans of a second shaft, a lrivelpinion on said. second shaft, a drive wheel engaging said pinion, and a universal joint supporting said drive wheel at the intersection of thepivotal axis of said frame and the axis of rotation of said gyroscope.

In a speed responsive device, a rotatableshaft, a frame `pivotally supported on said shaft, a gyroscope rotatably supported infsaid frame by means of a second shaft,1a drive pinion on said second shaft, a drive Wheel engaging said pinion, a third shaft in `line with saidl first shaft .and a universal of said third shaft. y

3.4111 a.A speed `responsive device, a rotatable shaft, a frame pivotally supported ioint supporting said drive Wheel on the end `mi said shaft, a-gyroscope rotatably sup ,eso

ported in said frame by means` of a second shaft, aV drive pinion supported on said second shaft in fixed relation to said gy' roscope, a drive wheel engz'iging said pinion, andsupporting means for said drive wheel preventing the same from rotating while not interfering with movement of said frame on its pivots.

4.111 a speed responsive device, a rotatable shaft, a frame pivotally supported on said shaft, a gyroscope rotatably sup ported in said frame by means of a secoml shaft, a drive pinion on said second shaft, a drive wheel engaging said pinion, and supporting means for said drive wheel permitting the saine to change its plane to accommodate itself to movement 'of said frame on its pivots while said first shaft is rotating.

5. In a speed responsive device, a piv oted frame, a gyroscope rotatably sup ported on said frame, means for driving said gyroscope comprising a gear wheel and a pinion, and auniversal joint supporting said gear Wheel at the intersection of the axis of rotation of said gyroscope with the axis of rotation of said frame.

(S. In a speed responsive device, a gyroscope supported on a rigid rotatable shaft, means supporting said shaft for movement about t-wo axes in addition to itsk axis of rotation, a pinion on said shaft. a gear wheel for driving said pinion, and means supporting said gear wheel to `pcrmit the same tov continuously change locus plane responsive to movement of said gyroscope.

7. In a speed responsive device, a gyro scope having three axes of rotation, a rigid shaft constituting one axis, a pinion on said shaft, and a nonrotatable gear wheel driving said pinion responsive to rotation of said gyroscope about one of said axes.

8.111 a speed responsive device, a y roscope having. three axes of rotation, a rigid shaft constituting one axis, a pin ion on said shaft, a gear wheel driving said pinion. and a universalv joint for supporting said gear wheel.

S). In a speed responsive levice, two shafts having their axes in alignment, a frame pivotally supported on the end of one shaft, a gear Wheel pivotally supported on the end of the other shaft, a gyroscope shaft supported on said frame, `and a pinion on4 said gyroscope shaft in engagement with said gear wheel. i i i 10. In a speed responsive device, a shaft, a frame pivotally supported on the end of said shaft, a gear Wheel lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to said shaft, means supporting said gear 'ivheel so that the same'can .change the angle of its plane with respect to"said shaft, a gyroscope Sluit supported, en Said time; .and a rie Sil Ill)

ion on said gyrosoope shaft in engagement with said gear Wheel.

ll. In a speed responsive device, a gyroseope, a pivoted frame supporting said gyroseope, a pair of gears for driving said gyroseope, a universal jointL supporting one of said gears, and idler gears on said frame engaging the freel)7 supported gear of said pair to maintain the said pair of gears in engagement.

12. In a speed responsive device a gyroscope having a shaft, `means supporting said shaft for movement about another axis in addition to its axis of rotation, a pair of gears for driving said shaft, one gear beingxed to the shaft, a universal joint supporting the other gear, and means about the said third axis, and an adjustable Weight for assisting such movement.

14. In a speed sensitive device, a main shaft, a gyrosoope, a shaft for said g'yroscope, a frame supporting said gyroscope shaft, means pivotally supporting said frame on said main shaft, and means in- Cluding a sleeve sliding on said main shaft for communicating movement of said frame on its pivot to a point outside said device.

l5. In a speed responsive device, a shaft supported for rotation about three noncoincidentaxes, a gyroscopio Wheel or rotor on said shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a drive Wheel fixed against rotation, and means for maintaining said drive Wheel and pinion in engagement to cause rotation of said shaft about one axis responsive to rotation about another axis.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 1st day of November, 1922.

RoDNEY e. RioHARDsoN. 

